Modeling Population Growth

Introduction

The most basic definition of ecology is the study of population in nature. The most general attribute that a population has is its size, consequently this is the focus of many ecological models.

Objectives

In the Preliminary Activity, you will use a spreadsheet to model a simple exponential growth for one species. You will then explore the effects of carrying capacity, competition, and predators on population growth.

After completing the Preliminary Activity, you will first use reference sources to find out more about population growth before you choose and investigate a researchable question.

Later, you will use the class research results as you investigate the population growth models of various combinations of competing herbivore species and predator species.